We’ve all heard of mold, and generally we all know it’s something bad; slimy, black, wet and musty-smelling are adjectives which come to mind. But do you know anything more about it? What is it actually? How does it grow? Why is it bad? How bad can it get? If you haven’t thought about this before, I recommend reading this thoroughly, since some of these things might be important if you ever face mold remediation in Orange County.
What’s mold?
First of all, let’s get this one straight. Mold is a fungus, and its spores are tiny, microscopic things which are all around us, flying in the air. What we are probably worried about is the so-called black mold. That’s a type of mold which is generally considered toxic, and if your home is infested by it, it does require immediate attention.
Why is it so bad?
As mentioned before, mold causes allergies. In our modern world, allergies can be quite severe, and require additional attention which some previous generations might not have paid them. However, allergies are not the key problem with black mold. It releases toxins in the air (hence its other, scarier name- toxic mold). These toxins are called mycotoxines (Ancient Greek for fungal toxins), and they come in many different variants. A very common toxin from this group, Satratoxin-H has very broad spectrum of effects on both humans and animals. Some of them include rashes, nosebleeds, chest pains, headaches, fatigue, and more.
OK, so it’s bad. How did it happen to me?
As mentioned before, mold is a fungus whose spores are all around us, it cannot be helped. If, however, you have mold on your walls or pipes, or anywhere in your home, it is due to the moisture. Fungi need water to proliferate, so if a spore finds a secluded wet spot, it is likely to grow easily. Even as little as two days is enough for a black mold colony to sprout.
How do I know it’s black mold?
All molds cause allergies and are generally not something you want in your home. Therefore, if you spot any kind of mold, consider removing it straight away. It is not uncommon for many different strains of mold to grow side by side in the favorable conditions. Black mold is black-green and slimy in favorable conditions, yet can be dry and powdery in less than ideal environment. But, then again, that’s pretty much any mold. So, in short, you can’t be sure, unless you have a microscope and you’re a mold expert. But, seriously, all mold is bad for you; get rid of it.
What to do?
First of all, do not do anything yourself. If it is black mold, disturbing it can cause it to release a large quantity of toxins and spores into the air. That’s something you definitely don’t want. What you want to do in this situation is to call in the experts. Emergency Home Solutions is your ideal solution for mold remediation in Orange County. We have the equipment and the know-how to get rid of it with minimal disturbance. It is important to note here that prior to any mold remediation, the source of the moisture needs to be identified and neutralized; otherwise, you may expect the mold to return. If it’s a leaky pipe, fix it. If it’s a wet outside wall, insulate it. Only when the source has been removed does the remediation make sense.
The term mold remediation is sometimes used instead of mold removal, since, as mentioned above, mold spores are all around us; we cannot remove them. We can, however, remediate the damage they do to your health and home. If you keep the conditions in your home moisture-free, you can expect to be mold-free as well. For mold remediation in Orange County, or any other emergency home service, contact Emergency Home Solutions at any time.